Missy, the dog abandoned on Mount Bierstadt when her pads became blistered and a storm moved in. (Photo courtesy: Alex Gelb)

A dog who was abandoned by her owner in rugged Colorado high country is getting a new home with one of her rescuers — a just ending to a terrible situation.

The decision made by the owner of Missy, a German Shepherd-rottweiler mix, to leave the dog on a saddle between Mt. Bierstadt and Mt. Evans set off a firestorm of criticism. And for good reason.

Anthony Ortolani said bad weather was moving in and the dog, which had bloodied and blistered paws, refused to walk any farther. Ortolani tried to get a rescue crew to go get the 5-year-old dog, but was told they only help people. So, Ortolani left the dog. She was found eight days later, near death.

Leaving the dog initially would be a difficult decision, but perhaps a prudent one. Ortolani said he and a 19-year-old companion attempted to carry the 112-pound dog, but could not get her down. But then you go back with food, friends and whatever it takes to get the dog down.

Initially, Ortolani said he wanted to keep the dog. He had been facing animal cruelty charges. Though his surrender of the dog was reportedly not part of a deal, he will is now set to plead guilty to a less serious violation of a Clear Creek County ordinance, his lawyer told the Post.

We’re glad to see Missy will now live with someone who obviously cares about her.

Her paws were sore and she couldn’t go on. He tried to carry the German shepherd but they were still near the summit, storms were approaching and he had a younger hiker to look after, too. So he left Missy behind and descended, later contacting Clear Creek County search-and-rescue and the sheriff’s office for help, only to be told a rescue was out of the question.

Let’s also assume Ortolani loves his dog and had taken her on such hikes before without any difficulty (we’re really giving him the benefit of the doubt with that last assumption, since it hasn’t been reported), and that his job then took him out of town. Should he get Missy back, as he wants?

Heck, no. Missy went for eight days without food or water, thanks to Ortolani, before being rescued by a group of volunteers. He apparently never organized a rescue party or made any further attempts to reach Missy after his initial report. That’s why he’s being charged with animal cruelty.

“I humbly beg the forgiveness of the community and most of all my Missy Girl,” Ortolani wrote in a blog post.

By all means, let everyone forgive him. But he’s proven himself a careless dog owner, to put it mildly, and should have to give her up.

Vincent Carroll is The Denver Post's editorial page editor. He has been writing commentary on politics and public policy in Colorado since 1982 and was originally with the Rocky Mountain News, where he was also editor of the editorial pages until that newspaper gave up the ghost in 2009.

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To reach the Denver Post editorial page by phone: 303-954-1331

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